[Ancient
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Ancient Rome
[Ancient
Rome Homepage][Architecture
of Ancient Rome][Gods and Goddesses
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and Environment][Sources]
The Romans were polytheistic. That means that they worshiped more then one god. The Romans had a gods for just about every known thing. They had gods for the sea, sky, land, women, war, beauty, etc. The Romans built temples in which they worshiped these gods. They had planets named after their gods and they had months named after their gods. They believed that gods were powerful, immortal people with special powers. They also believed gods came down on earth once in a while and pretend to be humans.
Janus
Janus was the Roman god of gates and doors, beginnings and endings, that is why he's represented with a double-faced head looking in opposite directions. He was worshiped at the beginning of the harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and any other thinkable types of beginnings. His temples in Rome were numerous. Janus also represents the transition between primitive life and civilization, between the countryside and the city, peace and war, and the growing of young people. In time of war his mighty principles were open. In times of peace they were not. the Month of January is named after Janus.
Jupiter
Jupiter was the supreme ruling god of Rome. Jupiter was also referred to as Zeus. Jupiter was the king of the Roman gods. He was considered the god of sky, light, weather, guardian of all property, protector of the state and its laws, oaths, and treaties. He had different names for the things he does. As the Roman Republic turned into the Roman Empire, Jupiter became known as a militant god. The planet is named after Jupiter the Roman god because it is the largest and most powerful.
Mars
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Mars was the Roman god of war, and one of the most prominent and worshiped gods. He was the beginning and the ending of war. Mars was the god of young man and their activities, primarily war. He was celebrated in October and March. His festival was called the Quinquartus. It was five days during the Vernal Equinox. In the early Roman history he was a god of spring, growth in nature, fertility, and the protector of cattle. Mars was also mentioned as a catholic god (earth-god) and this could explain why he became a god of death and finally the god of war. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno. According to some sources, Mars was the father of Romulus and Remus by the Vestal Ilia. Because he was the father of these legendary founders of Rome, and the Roman people, the people of Rome called themselves "sons of Mars."
Juno
Juno was the queen of the Gods. She is Jupiter's wife and sister, sister to Neptune and Pluto, daughter of Saturn, mother of Juventas, Mars, and Vulcan. She was also the protector and special counselor of the roman state. Juno was the protector of women during child birth, rearing, and marriage. She protected the city of Rome when Gaul's attacked. She was the guardian of the Empire's finances and considered the Matron Goddess of all Rome. The Matronalia, her major festival is March 1-2. Her other festival, on July 7-8, was called Nonae Caprotinae ("The Nones of the Wild Fig"). The month of June was named after her.
Venus
Venus was the goddess of love and beauty. Venus was born in the sea and washed up at Cyprus. She was originally the goddess of gardens and vineyards. Venus became the major deity of love and beauty after the influx of Greek deities. On August 18 the Vinalia Rustica was observed. A second festival, that of the Veneralia, was celebrated on April 1 in honor of Venus Verticordia, who later became the protector against vice. On April 23 a festival, the Vinalia Priora, celebrated the opening of one of her temples.
